U.S. patent number 4,753,438 [Application Number 06/882,533] was granted by the patent office on 1988-06-28 for back and gluteus maximus exerciser and method of using same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Rams Manufacturing, Inc.. Invention is credited to Russell Knipp, Winn S. Paris.
United States Patent |
4,753,438 |
Paris , et al. |
* June 28, 1988 |
Back and gluteus maximus exerciser and method of using same
Abstract
An exercise device is providing for suspending the body above a
support surface while a person performs exercises designed to
stretch and strengthen the full range of back extensor, abdominal
and gluteus maximus muscles. The device includes a pelvic brace
which cooperates with a rotatable leg restraining member to
position the body, in a cantilevered fashion, above the support
surface nearly horizontally and face down preparatory to exercising
the back extensor and abdominal muscles. Alternatively, the device
can be mounted differently to strengthen and tone the gluteus
maximus muscles. Utilizing gravity traction, the exercise device
tends to decompress the spinal column while the exercises are being
performed.
Inventors: |
Paris; Winn S. (Palos Verdes,
CA), Knipp; Russell (Santa Ana, CA) |
Assignee: |
Rams Manufacturing, Inc. (Pico
Rivera, CA)
|
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to September 2, 2003 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
27067588 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/882,533 |
Filed: |
July 7, 1986 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
544353 |
Oct 21, 1983 |
4609193 |
Sep 2, 1986 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/144 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H
1/0218 (20130101); A61H 2203/0493 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61H
1/02 (20060101); A63B 023/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/145,144
;128/75,71,68 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Assistant Examiner: Welsh; John
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bogucki, Scherlacher, Mok &
Roth
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 544,353,
filed Oct. 21, 1983 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,193 on Sept.
2, 1986.
Claims
I claim:
1. A portable collapsible exercise device for suspending the human
body above a support surface to decompress the spinal column while
exercising the back extensor and abdominal muscles and for
strengthening and toning the gluteus maximus muscles, said exercise
device comprising:
a pair of support members each having two side sections and a
middle section, each side section having a free end and a ground
end;
means for pivotably connecting said support members to each other
so that said support members can be moved between a divergent
supporting position and a substantially parallel collapsed
position;
a pelvic brace for underpropping and supporting the body extending
between said free ends of each of said support members;
a U-shaped leg restraining member having two side sections and a
middle leg contact section, each side section having a free end,
rotatable about an axis defined by the points of connection of the
pair of support members between an in-use position in which it
extends away from said support members and a storage position
alongside said support members, said pelvic brace being attached
adjacent the two free ends of the U-shaped leg restraining member,
said middle leg contact section of said leg restraining member
being parallel to said pelvic brace for applying a downwardly
directed force to the backs of the user's legs; and
a locking means for securing said leg restraining member in a
selected one of a plurality of positions to facilitate mounting,
use and collapsibility of said device.
2. The exercise device of claim 1 further comprising means for
releasably holding said support members in said supporting
position.
3. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein said leg restraining
member extends past said pelvic brace to provide hand gripping
portions to aid in mounting said device.
4. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein said locking means
includes a stationary plate secured to said frame and a rotatable
plate connected to said leg restraining member.
5. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein said locking means
further comprises a shaft arranged to interlock said plates to
prevent relative movement.
6. The exercise device of claim 4 further comprising a limiting
member for limiting movement of said rotatable plate relative to
said stationary plate.
7. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein said support members and
said leg restraining member are made of tubular steel.
8. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein said pelvic brace and
said leg contact section are padded.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This present invention relates to muscle toning exercise devices
and, more particularly, to a portable exercise device and methods
for using such a device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The spine is composed of separate but interlocking vertebrae which
work like building blocks, one stacked upon another, to provide
support for the body. Without proper muscular support, these blocks
become unstable. Between these vertebrae are shock absorbing pads
called discks which keep the space between the vertebrae open
enough to insure that the nerves and the blood vessels can pass
between them without injury. If the muscles adjacent the spine
become too tight or the disks flatten out, decreased circulation or
nerve function interference can result.
The disks flatten over a period of time principally because the
weight of the head, neck and shoulders, and because the
gravitational stress of an active lifestyle constantly compress the
spine throughout out lives. Additionally, over eating which
generally results in weak abdominal muscles, poor posture and lack
of exercise all contribute to weaken the muscular support for the
vertebrae and can make a person more suspectible to back sprains or
more serious injury. In this light, it is well known that such
problems can either be lessened, avoided or cured through
decompression of the vertebrae and an exercise program designed at
strengthening the back extensor and abdominal muscles.
A strong, healthy body often helps an individual to sleep more
soundly, increase his or her productivity, and avoid unnecessary
injuries. Besides helping an individual to feel good, a proper diet
and a rigorous exercise program can help a person look good and
enhance his or her self-image. The importance of this is
illustrated by today's fashions which increasingly call for strong
and firm abdominal and gluteus maximus muscles. These factors have
created a need for devices and methods designed to promote good
health, by decompressing the spine and strenghtening the supporting
muscles, and good looks also by strengthening and toning the
abdominal and gluteus maximus muscles.
Several devices have been devised which attempt to decompress the
spine via controlled traction in the cervical and/or lumbar spine
areas. Some of these devices effect this decompression by
suspending the body from the heels in an up-side-down manner.
Problems with such devices, however, include the possibility of
serious trauma to the feet, ankle, knee and hip joints which can
result from the suspension of the body from the ankles.
Additionally, these devices have proven to be less than entirely
satisfactory at strengthening the back extensor muscles and toning
the gluteus maximus muscles.
Other spinal decompression/gravity traction exercise devices are
used to suspend the body above a support surface by the thighs,
pelvis or abdomen. Some of these devices are designed principally
to support the user in an inverted position for spinal
decompression and the exercises performable on such devices are
merely an incident of the inverted supported position. Other such
devices, which typically rotate to a limited extent to facilitate
inversion of the body, are specifically designed so that exercising
can be done while simultaneously decompressing the spinal column.
However, the positioning of the body on these latter devices and
their present state of design make it very difficult to fully
exercise the back extensor, the abdominal, and the gluteus maximus
muscles.
Accordingly, there is a need for a fully collapsible and portable
exercise device which is principally constructed for stretching,
strenthening and toning the back extensor, the abdominal, and the
gluteus maximus muscles while simultaneously decompressing the
spinal column. Such a device should include a stable support frame
capable of suspending a body above a ground-support surface and
withstanding the torque exerted by rigorous exercise on the device.
Safety features designed to prevent the unintended repositioning of
device components during exercising should be included as well. The
present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related
advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invntion resides in a lightweight, portable exercise
device, wherein a collapsible frame holds several body-support
components above a horizontal support surface. These body-support
components underprop and suspend a person above the support surface
while the person performs exercises designed to stretch and
strengthen the full range of back extensor muscles, the abdominal
muscles and the gluteus maximus muscles. Additionally, the device
supports the body in a manner which tends to decompress the spinal
column while the exercises are being performed.
In one preferred form, a collapsible tubular frame, comprising two
U-shaped frame legs, engages the support surface along two
substantially parallel lines and the frame legs are spaced
sufficiently to prevent any torque forces exerted by the person on
the device, while exercising, from toppling it. The frame legs can
be connected at two upper rotatable connections to one another and
the frame legs are locked in their spaced relation during use by
several locking members.
A pelvic brace lying substantially in a horizontal plane between
the upper rotatable connections of the frame can underprop the
anterior pelvic area of a body to hold the body above the support
surface. This pelvic brace may be connected to a leg restraining
member which rotates generally about a line extending from one
upper rotatable connection to another. The leg restraining member
can be positioned with respect to the pelvic brace to provide a
generally downwardly directed force to the backs of a user's legs
after the user has mounted the exercise device to perform back
extensor and abdominal muscle stretching and strengthening
exercises. Once the leg restraining member has been correctly
positioned, it can be locked into place by a locking mechanism to
prevent the unintended rotation of the leg restraining member which
could result in injury to the user.
After the exercise device has been properly set up, the user can
mount the device by positioning the anterior pelvic area of the
body so that it is in contact with the pelvic brace. The user then
leans over the pelvic brace while keeping the body straight and
lifting his or her feet off the support surface. The straight body
is rotated over the pelvic brace until the backs of the legs
contact the leg restraining member at which time the person is
suspended above the support surface nearly horizontal and face
down.
With the body so cantilevered by the exercise device, the user can
utilize gravity traction advantageously to decompress the spinal
column while simultaneously stretching and strengthening
substantially all of the back extensor muscles. Additionally,
inverted sit-ups can be performed from this position to strengthen
and tone the abdominal muscles.
To strengthen and tone the gluteous maximus muscles, the user can
alternatively mount the exercise device by first facing the leg
restraining member and positioning the body next to the pelvic
brace on the side of the device opposite the leg restraining
member. Bending at the waist, the user then leans over the pelvic
brace and grasps both sides of one of the U-shaped frame legs. When
so positioned, the user holds the torso portion of the body
stationary, with respect to the device, and then moves his or her
legs in any combination of vertical, horizontal and rotational
directions. Important benefits derived from exercising the gluteus
maximus muscles as described include spinal column decompression
while the user is so mounted and very rapid strengthening and
toning of the muscles resulting from regular use of the device in
this fashion.
The exercise device can be conveniently collapsed or folded by
unlocking the frame legs and the leg restraining member and then
moving the frame legs and the leg restraining member until all of
the components of the exercise device are in substantially planar
alignment. This collapsibility feature eases transportation
problems and facilitates convenient storage of the device when it
is not in use.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principals of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such
drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise device embodying the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the exercise device of
FIG. 1, illustrating the positioning and alignment of a pair of
frame legs and a leg restraining member with respect to and upper
rotatable connection;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view taken generally along the line
3--3 of FIG. 2, partially broken away to illustrate a locking
mechanism;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exercise device when completely
folded or collapsed;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the exercise device of
FIG. 4, illustrating the positioning and alignment of the various
components of the device when it is folded or collapsed;
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the exercise device
illustrating the manner a person would mount and use the device to
stretch and strengthen the back extensor muscles while
simultaneously decompressing the spinal column; and
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the exercise device
illustrating the manner a person would mount and use the device to
exercise and tone the gluteus maximus muscles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As is shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the
present invention is concerned with a back and gluteus maximus
exercise device, generally designated by the reference number 10,
which is designed to support the body of a user 12 above a
horizontal support surface 14. The body 12 can be mounted on the
exercise device 10 to be held in a generally cantilevered position
so that when the body is straightened, it is suspended nearly
horizontally and face down preparatory to a series of exercises
designed to stretch and strengthen the back extensor and abdominal
muscles while simultaneously promoting spinal column decompression.
Alternatively, the exercise device 10 can be mounted differently to
perform a series of exercises designed to strengthen and tone the
gluteus maximus muscles while also simultaneously promoting spinal
column decompression.
In accordance with the present invention, a frame 16, including a
pair of U-shaped frame support legs 18 and 20, engages the support
surface 14 and holds all the other components of the exercise
device 10 above the support surface (FIG. 1). The frame support
legs 18 and 20 are connected to one another at two upper rotational
connections 22 and 24, defined generally by two nut and bolt
combinations 26, and the frame support legs engage the support
surface 14 along two generally parallel lines. During use, the
frame support legs 18 and 20 are spaced sufficiently by a pair of
locking bars 28 and 30 so that the exercise device 10 will not
topple due to torque forces exerted by the body 12 while exercising
on the exercise device.
The locking bars 28 and 30 are rotatably connected to the frame
support legs 18 and 20 respectively, and to one another, at several
rivet connections 32. When the locking bars 28 and 30 are extended
to be in horizontal, end-to-end alignment, they form a rigid beam
between the frame support legs 18 and 20 thereby rigidly holding
and preventing any further rotation of the frame support legs about
their upper rotatable connections 22 and 24. To collapse or fold
the frame 16, the locking bars 28 and 30 are caused to rotate about
the rivet connections 32 while simultaneously drawing the frame
support legs 18 and 20 toward one another. This simple feature
greatly enhances the portability and facilitates storage of the
exercise device 10 when not in use.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, adjacent and coaxially mounted
with the upper rotatable connections 22 and 24 are two rotation and
lock assemblies 34 and 36, respectively. These rotation and lock
assemblies 34 and 36 generally include an outer stop plate 38,
which is rigidly connected to the frame support leg 18, and an
inner rotation plate 40, which supports and is rigidly connected to
a leg restraining member 42 which will be more fully described
hereinafter. The nut and bolt combinations 26 hold the rotation and
lock assemblies 34 and 36 adjacent the upper rotatable connections
22 and 24 in a manner allowing all of the exercise device 10
components to rotate thereabout.
The outer stop plate 38 lies generally in a vertical plane and
provides support for a locking mechanism 44. This locking mechanism
44 comprises an outer housing 46, attached to and extending from
the outer surface of the stop plate 38, for positioning a stop
shaft 48 through an aperture 50 in the stop plate. The stop shaft
48 is essentially a cylindrical rod having a smaller diameter outer
portion 52 capped by a ball 54, and a larger diameter inner portion
56 which extends through the aperture 50 in the stop plate 38.
A washer 58 rests upon the step between the two portions 52 and 56
of the stop shaft 48 for buttressing one end of a spring 60 held
within the housing 46. This spring 60 is situated within the
housing 46 generally over the smaller diameter outer portion 52 of
the stop shaft 48 in a manner causing the larger diameter inner
portion 56 to extend through the aperture 50 in the stop plate 38
its maximum extent during a normal rest state. The spring 60
requires that the user of the exercise device 10 positively grasp
the ball 54 and use it as a handle to pull it away from the stop
plate 38 to withdraw the larger diameter portion 56 of the stop
shaft 48 into the housing 46.
Situated in a plane adjacent and parallel to the outer stop plate,
38, the inner rotation plate 40 typically includes three apertures
designed to accept the stop shaft 48 of the locking mechanism 44
for the purpose of rigidly holding the rotation plate, and thereby
holding the leg restraining member 42 in three predetermined
positions. As illustrated in FIG. 2, one of these apertures 62 is
positioned upon the rotation plate 40 to position the leg
restraining member 42 at an acute angle from the horizontal plane.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, another aperture 64 is positioned to lock
the leg restraining member 42 in a collapsed position generally
aligned with the frame support legs 18 and 20 when folded together.
The third or "mounting" aperture 66 is provided simply for
positioning the leg restraining member 42 in a position which
facilitates the convenient mounting of the exercise device 10
preparatory to exercising.
When the user desires to move the leg restraining member 42 into
any of the aforementioned positions, all that is required is that
the user grasp the ball 54 of the locking mechanism 44 and pull the
ball against the force of the spring 60 until the stop shaft 48 is
withdrawn from whichever aperture it may be extending through. The
leg restraining member 42 is moved, thereby causing the attached
rotation plate 40 to similarly move, until the desired aperture is
aligned with the stop shaft 48. The user then releases the ball 54
to allow the spring 60 to force the stop shaft 48 through the
selected aperture and rigidly hold and prevent any further angular
displacement of the rotation plate 40 or the attached leg
restraining member 42.
A limit stub 68 interacts with the stop plate 38 to effectively
prevent the rotation plate 40 from moving more than 180 degrees.
This is accomplished by rigidly attaching the limit stub 68 to the
outer face of the inner rotation plate 40 toward the outer edge
thereof, and by providing two abutment surfaces 70 and 72 for the
stub on the stop plate 38. This limit stub 68 essentially provides
a back-up safety mechanism for the remote possibility that the
locking mechanism 44 would fail to hold the rotation plate 40
stationary while the exercise device 10 was being used to stretch
and strengthen the back extensor or abdominal muscles. As a back-up
safety mechanism, the limit stub 68 would prevent the leg
restraining member 42 from moving significantly upwardly in the
even of a locking mechanism failure; an event which could result in
injury to the user.
The leg restraining member 42 is essentially a U-shaped tubular
member 74 having a cylindrical pad 76 positioned at the base of the
"U". Each side of the U-shaped tubular member 74 is attached to one
of the rotation plates 40 so that the ends of the U-shaped tubular
member 74 extend a short distance past the outer diameter of the
rotation plates. These ends are covered by grips 78 designed to
provide handles for the user to facilitate mounting of the exercise
device 10.
Positioned between the upper rotatable connections 22 and 24, and
attached to both sides of the U-shaped tubular member 74 of the leg
restraining member 42, is a substantially horizontal pelvic brace
80. This pelvic brace 80, which has a longitudinal axis
co-extensive with the rotational axis of the rotation and lock
assemblies 34 and 36 and the leg restraining member 42, is designed
to underprop the anterior pelvic area of the body 12 to hold it
above the support surface 14. The pelvic brace 80 includes a linear
tube 82, attached at both ends to the leg restraining member 42,
and an enlarged, generally cylindrical cushion 84 which encircles
the linear tube. The cushion 84 is rotatable about the linear tube
82 to ease mounting of the body 12 on the exercise device 12 and to
promote proper positioning of the anterior pelvic area over the
pelvic brace 80.
To utilize the exercis device 10 to stretch and strengthen
substantially all of the back extensor and abdominal muscles, the
leg restraining member 42 is positioned with respect to the pelvic
brace 80 to provide a generally downwardly directed force to the
backs of a user's legs 86 (FIG. 1). The user mounts the device 10
by first standing between the pelvic brace 80 and the leg
restraining pad 76, facing the pelvic brace with the anterior
pelvic area touching the pelvic brace. While keeping the body 12
generally straight and using the grips 78 as handles, the user
leans over the pelvic brace 80 and simultaneously lifts his or her
feet 88 off of the support surface 14. The body 12 rotates about
the pelvic brace 80 until the backs of the legs 86 contact the leg
restraining pad 76, at which time the straightened body will be
cantilevered with the upper portion thereof unsupported (FIG. 6).
Having the exercise device 10 so positioned and the user so mounted
with the body 12 generally horizontal and face down, gravity
traction can be utilized to decompress the spinal column while the
user simultaneously stretches and strengthens substantially all of
the back extensor muscles. Additionally, inverted sit-ups can be
performed from this position to strengthen and tone the abdominal
muscles.
Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 7, to strengthen and tone the
gluteus maximus muscles the user can mount the exercise device 10
by first facing the leg restraining member 42 and positioning the
body 12 next to the pelvic brace 80 on the side of the device
opposite the leg restraining member. Bending at the waist, the user
then leans over the pelvic brace 80 and grasps both sides of one of
the frame support legs 20. When so positioned, the user holds the
torso portion of the body 12 stationary, with respect to the device
10, and then moves his or her legs 86 in any combination of
vertical, horizontal and rotational directions. Important benefits
derived from exercising the gluteus maximus muscles as described
include spinal column decompression while the user is so mounted
and very rapid strengthening and toning of the muscles resulting
from regular use of the device 10 in this fashion.
When the user has finished exercising and desires to store the
device 10, it may be conveniently folded to reduce its storage
volume and increase its portability (FIGS. 4 and 5). To accomplish
this, the ball 54 is grasped and pulled away from the stop plate
38, thereby causing the stop shaft 48 to withdraw from the "use"
aperture 62. The rotation plate 40 is then rotated until the leg
restraining member 42, and more specifically the cylindrical pad
76, hangs generally below the pelvic brace 80. After the "folding"
aperture 64 within the rotation plate 40 is aligned with the stop
shaft 48 of the locking mechanism 44, the user releases the ball 54
which allows the spring 60 to cause the stop shaft to extend
through the "folding" aperture and lock the leg restraining member
42 in place. The locking bars 28 and 30 are then pulling upwardly,
causing them to pivot about their common connecting rivet 32, and
the frame support legs 18 and 20 are rotated about their upper
rotatable connections 22 and 24 to cause the frame support legs to
collapse upon one another. When these simple steps have been taken,
the exercise device 10 is in a configuration permitting convenient
storage and portability.
From the foregoing, it is apparent that a unique exercise device 10
has been provided including a sturdy frame 16 for supporting a leg
restraining member 42 which can be positioned for convenient
mounting, use and collapsibility. A locking mechanism 44 prevents
the unintended rotation of a rotation plate 40 and insures safe and
enjoyable use of the device 10. During use, the leg restraining
member 42 is positioned higher than the pelvic brace 80 so that, in
one use mode, a user's body 12 is cantilevered thereon and when
straightened, the body lies in a horizontal plane suspended above
the support surface 14. In this mode, back and abdominal muscle
exercises have the effect of decompressing the spine and
strengthening and stretching such muscles as previously not
possible with other similar devices. In a second use mode, the
device 10 can be used to stretch, strengthen and tone the gluteus
maximus muscles. With the device 10, very rapid results are
possible and, through regular exercising, a user will soon feel
more relaxed, healthy and vigorous. Additionally, the benefits,
both psychological and physical, resulting from a slimmer and
trimmer body 12 make such a device 10 an important addition to
almost any lifestyle.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be
limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *